Denver, CO Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Denver, CO, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Clearance (non-alley-facing)
- 21 feet minimum
- Setback (facing alley, not opening onto it)
- 5 feet minimum
- Setback (opening onto alley)
- 21 feet minimum
- Applies to
- Single-unit and two-unit dwellings
Summary
Denver requires 21 feet of vehicle maneuvering clearance in front of carport openings, or a 5-foot setback when the opening faces an alley.
Garage doors or Carport openings that do not open directly to a street or public or private Alley shall provide a minimum distance of 21 feet of maneuvering area as measured perpendicular from the face of the garage door or Carport opening. (See Figure 10.4-2)
2. When Garage doors or Carport openings are facing alley, Garage doors or Carport openings that open directly to a street or public or private Alley shall be located a minimum distance of 5 feet from the nearest right-of-way or private Alley boundary line as measured perpendicular from the face of the garage door or carport opening.
3. Garage doors or Carport openings that open directly to a private or public Alley shall be located a minimum distance of 21 feet from the farthest public or private Alley boundary line as measured perpendicular from the face of the garage door or carport opening.
Figure 10.4-2
Figure 10.4-3
Garage Door
ALLEY min 18’ GARAGE
21’ ALLEY 5’ GARAGE
Amendment: 1
RESIDENCE
RESIDENCE
STREET DENVER ZONING CODE June 25, 2010 | Republished February 25, 2025
STREET
| 10.4-21
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Under the Denver Zoning Code, a carport is an accessory structure enclosed on no more than two sides used to house or store vehicles. For single-unit and two-unit dwellings, a carport opening that doesn't face a street or alley must have 21 feet of clear maneuvering space measured perpendicular from the opening. If the opening faces an alley, it must sit at least 5 feet back from the nearest alley boundary line, or, if it opens directly onto a public or private alley, at least 21 feet back from the farthest alley boundary line. These layout rules apply whether the carport is attached or detached and exist to keep vehicles backing out of the space from blocking the street or alley.
Violations & Fines
Zoning Administration in Community Planning and Development enforces these standards at permit review; a carport built without the required maneuvering clearance can be denied a permit or ordered corrected as a zoning violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much clearance does a Denver carport need in front of it?
Can a carport open directly onto an alley in Denver?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
How Denver compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Denver to another location·View the Colorado accessory structures overview
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